GREEN BAY — Tucker Kraft had a blast on Sunday. And not once did he think about the financial risk he might’ve been taking. 

The Green Bay Packers star tight end took part in 11-on-11 team drills for the first time in training camp during Sunday’s in-pads practice at Ray Nitschke Field, and every time he blocked a defender, every time he caught a pass, every time he absorbed contact, every time he celebrated his touchdown with a leaping celebratory chest-bump with a teammate, he knew it got him one step closer to playing in the team’s Sept. 13 regular-season opener at Minnesota.

“I’m just getting back on the horse,” Kraft said with a wide smile afterward. “Now that I’ve gotten back to team reps as I continue to accumulate reps, I hope I can continue to rise my game as well, take myself to new heights rather than just return to [where I was] pre-injury.”

But Kraft also acknowledged that he is taking a chance by participating these practices at this level given the fact that he’s in the final year of his rookie contract and in line to become the NFL’s highest-paid tight end with a contract extension that seems to be right around the corner but definitely isn’t imminent.

After tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a Nov. 2 loss to the Carolina Panthers at Lambeau Field, Kraft started camp on the physically unable to perform list but was activated after missing just two practices.

But he was limited only to individual drills and catching extra passes from quarterback Jordan Love until Sunday, when he was targeted by Love five times in team periods and caught all five passes, including a 12-yard touchdown.

“I’ll always put it back on the team,” Kraft replied when asked why he was practicing in team periods now without a new deal. “Every one of these guys comes in here [to work]. This is violent sport and we risk life and limb, guys have to medically retire from this [expletive]. They’re banging heads, they’ve got messed up necks, backs. How many times can you blow a knee out? Guys keep fighting and clawing to come back into this locker room, and that’s the reason I do it.

“I want to leave a legacy on this sport as a whole. I want my children to see the lengths I would go to to fight for something I love. And I think I have it right here in the G.”

Asked if he considered not participating in 11-on-11 work until he had a new deal, Kraft replied, “Never crossed my mind.”

“That’s up to God,” he added. “I’ve said this multiple times, in the Bible over 350 times it says, ‘Do not fear.’ That’s one of his greatest commandments. Something happens to me again, it’s just up to God.”

Kraft said his goal is to be fully cleared without any snap restrictions for the opener against the Vikings, but he acknowledged that the Packers coaching and medical staffs will likely monitor his snaps — if not restrict them — during the first half of the season.

“They’re going to take into account my rep range probably until halfway through the season. Then they’re just going to pat me on the ass and send me out there, send me to the wolves,” Kraft said. “I’m going to get as comfortable as I can playing those reps in those games that I was playing previously.

“It’s just, the more you can do, all the hats I can wear on the offense, I want to bring everything to the table. Our job right now is to build my rep range so I’m capable of [playing without restrictions] in Week 1.”

And does he also expect to have a new deal by Week 1?

“That’s the goal,” Kraft said. “I think we’re a different team when I’m out on the field. And I think that’s obvious.

“I think everyone in this organization, every fan knows that, without sounding arrogant. I think there’s a different feel to the offense when I’m out there.

“I’ve kind of gone through life … assuming things will always just work out in the end. So I’m just going to continue to assume that it’s all going to work out for me.”

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